Comments on: Professional associations http://diylibrarian.org/archive/2005/12/07/professional-associations/ Librarianship for the people Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:18:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Tara http://diylibrarian.org/archive/2005/12/07/professional-associations/#comment-18 Tara Mon, 19 Dec 2005 13:30:24 +0000 http://diylibrarian.org/archive/2005/12/07/professional-associations/#comment-18 I think that we do still need professional associations to be advocates for the profession—in both public relations and in the legislative arena. Whether the two big associations currently represent the interests of the majority of librarians, and whether they are effective and efficient, are up for debate. As a public librarian, a conference like Computers in Libraries was just too expensive and wouldn't have given me what I wanted from a conference. In my current position, it would probably fill the gap nicely, although it's still expensive compared to SLA. I think that we do still need professional associations to be advocates for the profession—in both public relations and in the legislative arena. Whether the two big associations currently represent the interests of the majority of librarians, and whether they are effective and efficient, are up for debate.

As a public librarian, a conference like Computers in Libraries was just too expensive and wouldn’t have given me what I wanted from a conference. In my current position, it would probably fill the gap nicely, although it’s still expensive compared to SLA.

]]> By: Meredith http://diylibrarian.org/archive/2005/12/07/professional-associations/#comment-17 Meredith Sat, 17 Dec 2005 14:38:56 +0000 http://diylibrarian.org/archive/2005/12/07/professional-associations/#comment-17 I love the discussions that come from meeting in person, but I don't know that we need professional associations like ALA for that. We can just go to Computers in Libraries or one of the other conferences offered by for-profit companies. So much of what an association is and does can be accomplished online, in my opinion (as a known-nothing gen-x-er). Why do we need a bloated organization that spends $43 million a year (for our interests?). I love the discussions that come from meeting in person, but I don’t know that we need professional associations like ALA for that. We can just go to Computers in Libraries or one of the other conferences offered by for-profit companies. So much of what an association is and does can be accomplished online, in my opinion (as a known-nothing gen-x-er). Why do we need a bloated organization that spends $43 million a year (for our interests?).

]]> By: Rebecca http://diylibrarian.org/archive/2005/12/07/professional-associations/#comment-16 Rebecca Tue, 13 Dec 2005 21:38:23 +0000 http://diylibrarian.org/archive/2005/12/07/professional-associations/#comment-16 Maybe if more associations provided more online networking opportunities, more of us would stay. I do enjoy the occasional full in-person conference, but I can't make too many, so online opportunities are more valuable for me. I would preferentially join an association that provided more online networking. I am a member of ALA, but mostly so that I can be a part of the Distance Learning section of ACRL. Maybe if more associations provided more online networking opportunities, more of us would stay. I do enjoy the occasional full in-person conference, but I can’t make too many, so online opportunities are more valuable for me. I would preferentially join an association that provided more online networking. I am a member of ALA, but mostly so that I can be a part of the Distance Learning section of ACRL.

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